Tummy Tuck
The abdomen is one of the most important areas for both sexes, especially women, in terms of being satisfied with or at peace with their own body. A person's fat or thinness is often determined by the condition of their abdominal region. For women, a taut abdominal region in the ideally envisioned hourglass shape is a central feature. From this, the abdominal region is defined as the center of femininity. While rounded contours are desired in other parts of the body for women, a flat abdomen is ideal.
As a result of pregnancy or excessive weight gain, there is a significant increase in the volume of the skin and subcutaneous fat tissues in the abdominal area, as well as relaxation of the abdominal muscles and a decrease in skin elasticity. Although the amount of these tissues decreases significantly after weight loss or pregnancy, the abdominal skin, subcutaneous fat tissue, and abdominal muscles often do not recover sufficiently. It is known that the skin in this area not only expands but also relaxes hormonally during pregnancy. The elastic fibers of the expanded skin separate from each other and mostly form unpleasant deep stretch marks between the navel and the pubic area. Thus, an abdominal deformity occurs in the abdominal region that does not improve with exercise and diet, with fat accumulation, skin laxity, and muscle relaxation. In addition, this sagging skin can fold and lead to sensitivity or infections.
In general, the female body can be divided into two types: androgen and estrogen. In androgen-type bodies, the legs are thin, cellulite-free, the buttocks are small and somewhat flat; excess fat accumulated above the hips, a reduction in waist indentation, and a domed structure in the upper abdomen are observed. In estrogen-type bodies, also defined as Mediterranean-type women, narrow shoulders, small breasts, a thin waist, wide hips, and a tissue structure prone to cellulite and sagging are seen.
Due to the skin's slipperiness and softness being more conducive to stretching, the ideal patient for "tummy tuck and bodylifting" is a woman with an estrogen-type body. In androgen-type bodies, the swollen and enlarged abdomen appearance is often an indicator of increased pressure due to excess intra-abdominal fat. In these cases, losing weight before surgery, reducing intra-abdominal pressure, and relaxing the abdominal wall makes it easier to tighten the muscles and slim the waist.
Before "tummy tuck and bodylifting" surgery, it is very important for the person to reach their ideal weight appropriate for their height to achieve the desired outcome.
During the surgery, excess fat between the navel and the pubic area is usually removed. The abdominal skin, along with the underlying fatty tissue, is separated from the abdominal muscles up to the ribs. Abdominal muscles that have loosened and spread sideways due to pregnancy or excess weight are rejoined at the midline, strengthening the abdominal wall. This results in a tighter abdominal structure and a slimmer waistline. A new opening is created for the navel in the stretched abdominal skin, and the navel is secured in its new position. After the surgery, a scar extends from one hip bone to the other, planned to be hidden within the bikini line. This scar is usually not noticeable from the outside. Of course, how thin and smooth the scar is directly affects the quality of the result.
In some cases, in individuals with excessive subcutaneous fat tissue, tummy tuck surgery can be performed in conjunction with liposuction. If fat accumulation and skin excess are limited to only the area below the navel, a partial tummy tuck can be preferred, and in this case, the position of the navel is not changed.
In individuals who have experienced significant weight loss, in addition to abdominal laxity, sagging buttocks and loose leg skin may also be observed. In such cases, the abdomen, buttocks, and legs can be tightened simultaneously with a circular incision planned so that the scars remain within the bikini line. With this procedure, known as "bodylifting," the entire lower body can be reshaped in a single session.
During a tummy tuck, umbilical hernias, inguinal hernias, or scars from previous surgeries (appendectomy, C-section, etc.) can also be corrected at the same time.
The issue that most concerns patients in these surgeries is usually the length of the scar. However, the more regular, youthful, and aesthetic the body's form appears, the less attention is drawn to the scar. Patients are mostly bothered by irregularities in the scar area rather than the length of the scar. Therefore, maintaining the regularity of the abdominal wall is one of the fundamental principles of plastic surgery.
It is possible to become pregnant again after a tummy tuck. In my observations, pregnancies that occur after surgery do not strain the abdominal wall as much as the first pregnancy. However, wound healing may be riskier in overweight individuals. The thinner and more saggy the subcutaneous fat tissue, the more successful the tightening procedure will be, and the healthier the healing process will proceed.
Therefore, I emphasize to my patients considering a tummy tuck or body lift that losing weight before the surgery will significantly improve the results. I point out that the effort shown during this process is an important part of the surgical outcome.
As I previously emphasized regarding the breast area, the primary goal of such aesthetic interventions is to achieve balance and harmony in the overall appearance of the body. When a beautiful and flat abdomen is achieved, its harmony with other parts of the body also becomes important.
It should be remembered that the aim of aesthetic surgery is to bring the entire body, not just a single area, into a balanced and harmonious state.